About Matthew Ancira
Matthew Ancira is a trauma-informed holistic healer in New Orleans who blends Eastern energy medicine, neuromuscular bodywork, and lived experience of recovery.
His work focuses on restoring circulation, calming the nervous system, and helping people move out of long-held pain, trauma, and chronic stress into real relief and regulation.
From Entrepreneurship to Trauma-Informed Healing
For decades, my life revolved around building things in the world: small businesses, a non-profit, corporate roles, and international projects. Those experiences stretched me—but they also left a mark on my body and nervous system.
Facing the health issues that surfaced from years of pushing through pain forced me to change direction. Guided by master teachers, I was introduced to ancient practices and Eastern philosophies that didn’t just “manage” symptoms—they helped unwind the root of what was happening in my body, mind, and energy.
That healing journey became my new path. Today, I share that same blend of spiritual understanding, energy medicine, and old ways of healing through bodywork to help others move out of chronic pain, trauma, and dysregulation into a more functional, peaceful life.
What I Do?
I help people whose bodies are stuck in survival mode—physically, emotionally, and energetically.
Using Eastern bodywork, neuromuscular techniques, and energy medicine, I work directly with the systems that drive how you feel: fascia, circulation, nerves, and the stress response.
In our work together, we focus on:
Relieving long-standing pain and tension
Calming the nervous system and easing fight-or-flight patterns
Supporting the immune and endocrine systems so your body can repair
Resolving trauma imprints stored in the body
Sessions also include practical tools—breath, grounding, and lifestyle shifts—so your progress continues outside the treatment room. The goal is not just temporary relief, but a more stable, functional, and vital body.
How I Work
My work is the result of years of practice with master teachers and daily discipline. Two teachers, in particular, shaped my path.
Sifu Tommy introduced me to static Chi Kung and the power of cultivating internal energy. That work taught me how to feel and direct the body’s subtle systems with precision.
Mr. Forest helped heal injuries and trauma that had accumulated over years. Under his guidance, I expanded my natural capacity to support others—learning how to combine hands-on work with deep energetic correction.
Today, my method integrates:
Living meditation – staying present and grounded so I can accurately read what your body needs in real time
Energy cultivation – Chi Kung, breathwork, stretch and movement to keep my system clear so I can support yours
Eastern medicine + neuromuscular bodywork – techniques that restore alignment, circulation, and nerve function
This combination helps me meet you exactly where you are—whether you’re dealing with trauma, surgical recovery, chronic pain, or burnout—and move your body toward relief and reset.
Lisa and Our Shared Path
One of the greatest blessings in my life is my wife, Dr. Lisa DeFusco-Ancira. We met through early morning meditation and yoga in New Orleans, and our friendship quickly became a shared journey of healing.
Together we studied Chi Kung, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tui Na, and other true Eastern healing practices—traveling across the U.S. and abroad to deepen our understanding. That path eventually became Higher Purpose Healing, our way of serving individuals, families, and the wider community.
Our work is grounded in love, family, and a commitment to the conscious awakening of those we serve.
Why I Became a Bodyworker and Traiteur
My own body has been my greatest teacher.
Since my teens, I’ve lived with injuries, trauma, and health challenges: spinal issues, nerve pain, circulation and thyroid problems, even mini-strokes. For years I moved through life with discomfort that standard approaches couldn’t fully resolve.
Through Eastern healing practices, plant medicine, Chi Kung, neuromuscular bodywork, and the care of my teachers—and with the quiet strength of my grandmother—I slowly rebuilt my health. It took time, humility, and a refusal to give up.
That process didn’t just relieve symptoms; it changed how I understand pain, trauma, and the body’s ability to repair. My work now is an extension of that journey: helping others who feel “stuck” in their bodies experience the same kind of relief, regulation, and hope.
I don’t approach this as theory. I approach it as someone who has lived it.
My Approach to Healing
Healing, to me, is the removal of pain and the restoration of function so that you can finally feel, rest, and understand what your body has been trying to say.
The best results come when we work as partners—your willingness to heal, plus my tools and experience. My practice is rooted in universal law and love, with room for learning and even laughter along the way.
I am living proof that deep healing is possible. If you’re ready to explore what’s possible for you, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.